SPRINGFIELD - Defensemen Matt Taormina and forward Dana Tyrell became new members of the Springfield Falcons at Wednesday's National Hockey League trade deadline.

They were acquired by Springfield's parent club, the Columbus Blue Jackets, in a deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. As part of the trade, forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Dalton Smith will be joining the Syracuse Crunch - the team that ousted Falcons from the American Hockey League playoffs last spring.

"That's the business of hockey," Falcons coach Brad Larsen said of the trade. "Marchie and Smitty are both quality people. We were very thankful to have them here, and we wish them well. As far as the trade is concerned, we think it will help us in our playoff push."

Marchessault scored 24 goals as an AHL rookie with the Connecticut Whale in 2011-12, and 21 last season as a member of the Falcons. This season, though, he has had scoring droughts, leaving him with 14 goals while playing in 56 of Springfield's 57 games.

Smith served as a checking forward for the Falcons, often showing a willingness to fight on behalf of his teammates. He played 50 games for the Springfield club, scoring four goals.

The acquisition of Taormina gives the Falcons another solid defenseman, one who has played 205 games in the AHL. With the Crunch last season, he played 55 games, plus 18 in the Calder Cup playoffs.

"He's a skilled D guy, a puck mover and a good player at both ends," Larsen said. "Tyrell? He has great speed, and NHL playoff experience."

Taormina played four seasons at Providence College before going pro. He twice won the Lou Lamoriello Award as his team's most valuable player.

With Taormina aboard, the Falcons have eight defensemen. That includes Tim Erixon, who is "day to day" with an injury.

There's also the possibility that, at some point, the Falcons could get AHL All-Star Cody Goloubef back from Columbus.

Tyrell, Tampa Bay's No. 2 draft pick in 2007, can play either center or left wing. In the 2010-11 season, he played 78 games for Tampa Bay, plus seven in the playoffs.

With the Crunch this season, he had nine goals in 44 games.

The new players likely will join the Falcons roster in time for the team's morning skate Friday, before it starts a three-game weekend by playing at Hartford.

In a trade with the Edmonton Oilers, the Jackets added depth on defense by acquiring Nick Schultz, a veteran of 871 NHL games. He's set to join them for their game Thursday night in Chicago. Schultz, 31, has a record of durability over his 12 seasons in the NHL. This season, he played in 60 of Edmonton's 63 games.

As part of its playoff push, Columbus cleared a big contract from its roster when it sent veteran Marian Gaborik to Los Angeles for winger Matt Frattin and two draft picks. Since coming to the Jackets in a trade last season, Gaborik has missed 40 of the team's 74 games because of injuries. On the ice, he hasn't looked like the 40-goal scorer the Jackets thought they were getting.